Magnetic Attraction: The Eighth House and Its Ruler

I’ve written about the kinds of partners/lovers that you are attracted to, what you do to get their attention and why. But what about the people that you attract without trying? I’m talking about the types that always seem to be drawn to you, whether you’re interested or not.

Blame the 8th House for this. Ruled by Scorpio, it represents sex, shared resources, death, compulsions, phobias and anything else that you don’t have control over. Opposite from the 2nd House of security, almost everything about the 8th makes people uneasy—including those it draws in.

The kind of people that you magnetize are determined by the sign on the cusp of the 8th. If your 8th House cusp is in Aquarius, you will attract Aquarian types. Let’s say the ruler of Aquarius (Uranus) is in your 4th House conjunct your Moon in Libra. You will attract those who upset your emotional (Moon) balance (Libra). They’ll impact you deeply, as the 4th House represents family, childhood and your past. Note that they do not have to be Sun sign Aquarians. They could have Aquarius emphasized in their chart by sign, planet (Uranus) or house (11th House).

So what to do with this 8th House energy if you don’t like who you’re drawing in? Can you change things? Yes and no. Aquarius on the cusp of the 8th will always be Aquarius. If you want to attract more stable types, you can’t morph the sign into Capricorn. But the 8th is about transformation. It holds all your baggage, so the people it draws in are going to reflect what’s sitting in your psychological basement.

Back to our Aquarian example. Moon conjunct Uranus indicates a conflicting desire for stability and excitement. You’re not happy when single, but restlessness kicks in when you settle down. Hence the electrifying, upsetting people that you attract. The key is finding a balance at home (4th House) between freedom and security. This could be done with an understanding partner or a home business that meets your emotional needs. Once this internal balance is achieved, the people you draw in may become interesting rather than upsetting. They’ll be inspiring friends instead of traumatizing lovers.

Here’s another example: Scorpio on the cusp of the 8th and Pluto (ruler of Scorpio) in the 7th. “Great,” you might think. “I attract the kind of men I view as ideal, 7th House partners.” But maybe these guys become controlling, possessive stalkers. When do you get a relationship where you can actually breath? Since the 7th represents your projected qualities, the key would be to work on your own sense of power. Then you could experience an intense, passionate relationship without the manipulation.

The 8th House is not straightforward. It represents some of the most challenging issues that people will ever confront. Many times it’s easier to avoid it altogether. This is why dealing with the people it magnetizes can be so difficult. Just remember that the energy the 8th sends out starts from within (Scorpio). You can’t totally change it, but you can alter it with tools ranging from basic self-awareness to therapy. Once the energy shifts, the types that you attract will become the healthiest people for you.

Wow I love it! So it’s not the other way around that since I have Gemini in my 8th house I will be really sexually attracted to Geminis.. It’s that the Geminis would be sexually attracted to me.
Right?

Would it also be like that they would also be overwhelmed by me? If both of their sun and moon is in Gemini?

Hi Jeffery. Could you tell me what’s this about?
Like the 8th house .. I always thought that this is who I am supposed to be attracted to.. but here I am seeing something else and it’s making me very confused. Can you please explain this article and why is it like this? What I thought was that the first and 2nd houses were what we offered.. And 7 and 8 were what we would take or want.

What you wrote made me think alot about my own chart and helped me find an explication for the type of man i attract in my life. 8th h cusp in virgo, mercury conj. Chiron in cancer in the 6th. I can t find exactly what the virgo type would be (regarding the man i attract) but i clearly see the (let s say) chiron type. The wounded man. All of my ex had issues with alcohoolic/absent/violent father. Mine..he was always there. But not emotionally and somehow this made me feel i m not worthy enough to be loved. So my biggest fear is that they will close themselves emotionally and eventually will leave me.(well…i have other planetary placements that are indicators for not so happy relationships but now…i see things from another perspective…and i know that the challenge is to work on myself).

Thank you for the article..now i m starting a really detailed research on the matter:))
Ps: astrologers sharing their own research on planetary placements are to be appreciated and valued. You inspire me..as i am studying to become a professional astrologer. Know that you are being apreciated and read in Romania.:D (yeah..probably one country nobody heard of)
Namaste!

What do you think about the 7th and 8th house ruler Square Venus and Conjunct Mars-Uranus in synastry? My 7th and 8th house are in Capricorn (7th house is at: 7 degrees Cap, 8th is at: 29 degrees Cap) that is ruled by Saturn in Scorpio. My Moon at 24 degrees Cap is also Conjunct my 8th house ruler.

His Venus is Square my Saturn and his Mars-Uranus is Conjunct my Saturn. For some reason I find him absolutely delectable, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more sexually attracted to a person in my entire life.

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